Greetings!
With February comes reports from the east that a special rodent crawled out of it's hole in the ground and after not seeing it's shadow called his local BMW dealer and made an appointment to get his GS ready for the summer, because he is convinced that it's coming early! We know this little guy pretty good, and he's usually right, so we have set up a special service deal to help get you ready early. Check out the coupon at the bottom of the newsletter.
The BMWVC GS Venture Challenge is off to a great start with four of the designated rides done once already and many more to go. It's not too late to get involved and get dirty, with 312 days left in 2013, that's 312 riding days in California, so what are you waiting for? Sign up here.
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Ride report - Big Sur.
From the Journal of Cameron Marshall
February 2-3 Big Sur Gear-Up Getaway
This is a trip I always look forward to. It's also the reason I bought my first GS motorcycle. A shiny red R100gs, it was 1992 and I grew tired of bouncing my clapped out R65LS over the most glorious 5 miles of unpaved terra firma I know and to a campsite and view that's Off. The. Hook. I would've been happy if this had been the only dirt I ever rode. I didn't know it then but I was in my embryonic stage of being an adventure motorcyclist.
My wife's requests for me to accompany her to a co-workers retirement party on the same date as the ride were at first whisper like, but finally grew loud enough to drown out the call of the wild. Besides the Mercedes, expensive hairdos and nails that must be painted by a Van Gogh relative, Mertyl doesn't ask for much. She knows what these trips mean to me, but I also know any conversation with her that ends in "whatever" has some serious consequences. It's simple logic, rock crushes scissors, paper covers rock and going to the party with Mert covers my adventure camping. A good deal.
With no hesitation my wingmen, Beegle and Rick led the ride to Big Sur. Here's what a few of the riders had to say.
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Ride report - Rowher
:: Dual Sport Ride to Rowher Flats
:: excerpt from HR Technical Logue - 02-09-13 9AM PST ::
:: It was a chilly Saturday morning the ninth of February as six riders set off from BMWVC at 9am on our way towards Castaic by way of Grimes Canyon and Guiberson Road. We made our way through the always-fun twisties then on down to HWY 126, then a short ride up Bouquet Canyon to connect with Vasques Canyon over to Sierra HWY. We rode up Sierra HWY until we found the entrance to Rowher Flats OHV Park, and this was where the fun really began.
Read more here...
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Venture Riders Forum
Are you tired of all the Bla Bla Bla of Facebook?
Do you find most online forums just too huge with more rhetoric and rules than actual help?
We felt this way too and decided to do something about it!
In conjunction with our GS Venture Challenge BMWVC introduced the Venture Riders Forum.
We are building a group of riding enthusiasts to share our adventures with, and as part of that it was decided that we need our own central place to talk about, plan, and share our motorcycling adventures online in a way Facebook could not provide.
For now it is leaning toward the GS and dual sport crowd, but we have set up a few forums for the road touring crowd, and plan to add some rides for you later this year.
It has taken a few weeks to set up the domain name, software and hosting, to get it to where it is today. Is it perfect? I doubt it, but the only way we are going to get it going is to open the gates and let in the masses.
So head on over to the forum and check it out, we hope you like it.
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Calendar of Events
Things are happening really fast here at BMWVC, pay attention or you could miss something.
February 16 - Don Hobson's Street Ride to Jalama Beach
February 21 - BMWVC Tech Night
February 23 - Earthrider's Fundamentals Class
March 9 - Cam's Gear-Up Getaway/Howard's Dual Sport Ride to Lockwood Valley
March 16 - Don Hobson's Street Ride
March 23 - Ground Breakers Novice Dual Sport Class
March 30 - BMWVC Spring Cleaning Sale
April 20-21 - Ventura Off Road Show
April 24 - Guest Speaker Rene Cormier
May 4 - BMWVC Bike Show and Open House
Plus! We have some larger rides that are scheduled further out. If you are interested in any of these rides please email Michael Spencer for details and to get on the list.
April 26-28 - Mojave Road
May 25-26 - Telescope Peak Death Valley
June 14-16 - Kern Plateau
August 3-14 - Great Divide Ride
Link to Calendar
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That's it for now. For up to the minute, or so, information check us out on Facebook or check the Venture Riders Forum blogs.
Sincerely,
Michael Spencer
BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County
Remember to ride safe. |
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Venture Challenge
The Year of the Ride 2013
It's simple, 12 months, 15 rides, and You.
BMWVC is thrilled to kick up our stands and ride towards adventure as we begin our GS Venture Challenge, Year of the Ride 2013. Dedicated to expanding the ride opportunities of our friends and clientele, we have developed this ride challenge for those looking to explore the GS lifestyle. Ranging from scenic day rides to challenging multi-day excursions you will be able to test your technique and develop your expertise either on your own or in the company of other riders. Explore and experience Big Sur, Telescope Peak and Figueroa Mountain, challenge yourself through the tall pines on the Kern Plateau, under the shadow of the Trona Pinnacles, over the varied expanses of Carizzo Plain and the Mojave Road. Take the ultimate trek on the Great Divide Ride. BMWVC understands the difficulties in venturing out on your own and we will be there to assist with technical support from GPS coordinates and area information to ride support vehicle availability and web forum access. Join the GS Venture Challenge and make 2013 your Year of the Ride.
Expand your knowledge and expertise, test your mettle against the backdrop of California and beyond, meet old friends and make new ones - take the GS Venture Challenge!
Registration is only $75 and includes these additional benefits:
Four free tire changes per year*
Tire storage
Extended BMWVC Van Service Pick-up*
Parts and Service coupons
GS Venture Challenge T-Shirt
Participation will include access to a private forum page.
Ride Support Availability
In addition, participants that complete four easy rides, two moderate rides and onechallenging ride will be awarded a GS Venture Challenge Jacket to show off all your ride patches!
For up to date information or questions check out the Venture Riders Forum or email mspencer@bmwventura.com
To sign up now go here -> Sign Up
*Certain restrictions apply.
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Special Guest Speaker
Rene Cormier
At the age of 33 Rene Cormier left the comfortable 9-5 life in exchange for a motorcycle adventure of a lifetime. Selling all his worldly belongings and working with a $25 per day budget, Rene eventually took 5 years to complete his unsupported and unsponsored 95,000 mile global loop.
The book won the Bronze medal in the Travel Essay Category at the 2010 Independent Book Publisher Awards in New York City. That same year the title received the 2010 Da Vinci Eye award, and was nominated as a finalist in the Eric Hoffer Award for Short Prose and Independent Books.
On April 24, 2013 Rene will be here at BMWVC sharing first hand his experiences . So mark your calendar now. We will begin accepting reservations in March as space will be limited.
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Photo Contest
 | | Photo By: Joe Finn |
October
Congratulations to our winner from January. Joe will receive a NEW BMWVC Hat and a $50 Gift Card
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The rules are simple.
It must have a BMW motorcycle in it, it must be a picture you took and have the legal right to publish and it must be in good taste. One entry per person and the previous month's winner is not eligible. Sorry but we have to keep it fair.
By submitting a picture you are giving BMW Motorcycles of Ventura County permission to publish it on our website, Facebook page and newsletter free of any payment, except for the winner which will be entitled to the BMWVC Hat and $50 Gift Card!
Winner will be announced in the newsletter and on Facebook, the month following.
Email entries to
info@bmwventura.com
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